Telegraph-key



(No Model.) 5 G. F. PHILBROOK.

TELEGRAPH KEY. a

No. 545,532. Patented Sept. ,3, 189 5.

INVENTOR WITNESSES v 5 awzwm MMWW NITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

GEORGE FRED PHILBROOK, OF LISBON FALLS, MAINE.

TELEGRAPH-KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 545,532,"datedSeptember 3, 1895. Application filed January 19, 1895. Serialhio.535,551- (No model.) i

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE FRED PHIL- BROOK, a citizen of theUnitedStates, residing at Lisbon Falls, in the county of Androscogginand State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTelegraph-Keys; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to telegraph-keys which automatically close thecircuit when the operators finger is withdrawn. Heretofore diversdevices have been sometimes used for this purpose with the View ofobviating the inconvenience of the switch being accidentally left openafter the message has been sent; but such devices have been too complex,easily disordered, and uncertain, or have necessitated a cramped andinconvenient position of the fingers, or have been otherwiseunsatisfactory.

The object of my invention is to effect the automatic oircuit-closin gwith the utmost certainty and the least possible number of oper-- ativeparts, and to avoid all inconvenience in manipulation. To this end Imake use of a weighted and pivoted button arranged to fall when theoperators finger leaves it, and provided with a contact-piece whichcloses the circuit by being brought against a conductor in the samecircuit when the said button thus falls over.

My invention consists: in the combination of the said pivoted buttonwith the contacts, wherebyit closes the circuit, as aforesaid, and alsomore specifically in the construction and combination of partshereinafter particularly set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective View ofa telegraphkey embodying my invention in the position it takes whilereceiving the pressure of the operators finger. Fig. 2 represents asimilar View of a part of the same with the button fallen down to closethe circuit, as stated. Fig. 3 represents a vertical central sectionaldetail View of the button. Fig. 4 represents in perspective detail oneform of the spring or conductor with which the falling button makescontact and the rubber block that is attached thereto; also, the saidspring and block detached.

A designates the base of the key, provided on top with a plate B, whichforms part of the electric circuit. This plate is provided with theordinary raised contact-stud b, which is arranged for contact in theusual manner with the corresponding stud c of the key-lever O, pivotedat its rear end between insulated or insulating lugs D, raised onthesaid base. The usual replacing-spring E is interposed between thesaid lever and base, and the usual screw F, working through the saidlever, adjusts its tension. The operating end of the said lever isbifurcated at O to allow the pivoting of the key-button or knob Gthereto, leaving the said button free to fall outward from the end ofthe said lever on its pivot. The top or crown of this button has a rim Graised on its rear edge, of approximately semicircular form, so as toreceive the pressure of the operators finger when the button is in theposition shown by Fig. 1 and prevent cramping or slipping. The forwardpart of the button is weighted,preferably by drilling holes therein andfilling these with plugs of lead g.

The lower end of the shank of the button is provided with a wedge-shapeddownward extension H of conducting materiahthe same being adapted toenter between bifurcations I of a spring I, the other end of which isattached to the plate B. A rubber block J fits upon this spring and alsois fastened into the space between the bifurcations of the lever abovementioned behind the button, where it is fastened by transverse rivetsj. p The under side of this block is channeled to guide the said leverand spring and'allow endwise play without wear while the said leverrises and falls. It also insulates these parts from each other, so thatthe circuit will not be closed by any direct contact between them,butonly during operation by contact between the studs b and c, and afterpressure ceases and the button is allowed to fall over by contactbetween the wedge-shaped extension or contact sition for service. Ofcourse its form may be varied, and it need not even necessarily be aspring if means are provided to hold it ready for contact and allow itto yield as the key descends. Of course the button may be pivoted toturn down sidewise instead of forward, making electrical connection insubstantially the same way without departing from the spirit and scopeof my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a telegraph key, a pivoted button arranged to fall over when leftwithout pressure and provided with an integral extension formin g anelectrical con tact piece, in combination with another contact piecearranged in the path of the contact-piece first mentioned, to makecontact therewith and close the circuit when the button falls oversubstantially as set forth.

2. In a telegraph key, a pivoted button arranged to fall over when leftwithout pressure and provided with an integral extension forming anelectrical contact piece, in combination with a spring which isbifurcated at its end to receive the said contact-piece and forms theother contact, closing the circuit when the button falls oversubstantially as set forth.

3. A telegraphkey provided'with a pivoted key-button which has a raisedsemi-circular rim on the rear or inner part of its periphery, for thepurpose of facilitating the turning up of the said button into workingposition by the operators finger, the forward or outer part of theperiphery of the said button being left smooth substantially as setforth.

4. A telegraph key provided with a pivoted key-button which has a raisedsemicircular rim on the rear or inner part of its periphery tofacilit'ate the lifting of the button into workin g position by theoperators finger, and countersunk weightsnear the outer part of itsperiphery to insure the falling over of the button when left withoutpressure substantially as set forth.

5. A telegraph-key provided with a pivoted button for automaticcircuit-closing, the said button having leaden weights countersunk in itnearits outer edge for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE FRED PHILBROOK.

Witnesses:

HARRIS GINSBURY, GEORGE W. DEAL.

